Collection ID 1569
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Paramount   Release date: 2008   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Suit up for action with Robert Downey Jr. in the ultimate adventure movie you’ve been waiting for, "Iron Man"! When jet-setting genius-industrialist Tony Stark is captured in enemy territory, he builds a high-tech suit of armor to escape. Now, he’s on a mission to save the world as a hero who’s built, not born, to be unlike any other. Co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges, it’s a fantastic, high-flying journey that is "hugely entertaining" (Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal).
My Rating:
My Review: Another comic book adaptation. Thankfully, this one is done right. Directed by Jon Favreau (Swingers, The Replacements, Elf) and starring Robert Downey Jr. (as Tony Stark/Iron Man), Terrence Howard (as Rhodey/The General), Jeff Bridges (as Obadiah Stane), Gwyneth Paltrow (as Pepper Potts) and others. Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges were excellent. Utterly convincing in their roles. The character portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. was fantastic. I really enjoyed the slightly annoying, imperfect, self-absorbed anti-hero aspects of Tony Stark, and Robert Downey Jr. was a casting coup in that regard. Given Downey's personality, I got the feeling that he was Tony Stark. Terrence Howard was unbelievable in his military role, and Gwyneth Paltrow was so-so. The story - Capitalist, billionaire, playboy, inventor, self-made man - Tony Stark is kidnapped after demonstrating the 'Jericho' to an audience of U.S. military procurement personnel in Afghanistan. During the violent abduction, Stark is wounded but survives. Forced to build the 'Jericho' for his abductors, Stark deceives the dimwitted terrorists and builds a suit of powered armor instead. After affecting his escape, he learns the truth behind his kidnapping and the sales of weapons in Afghanistan. He then builds a new suit and sets off on a career of crime fighting, starting with those who sought to use and assassinate him. Excellent movie. Great sound track, and a level of visual detail beyond anything I've seen in a long time. The cgi/screen effects were superbly executed - utterly convincing. A great summer blockbuster escape. The only let down was the soundtrack. It was good, but the trailers left me anticipating something better. Be sure to sit through the credits for the extra scene. 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 286
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Ron Perlman, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer
Genre: Horror
Studio: New Line Cinema   Release date: 1996   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): German (USA)
Summary: After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.
My Rating:
My Review: This movie gets pretty low ratings at IMDB, but I like it quite a bit. Adapted from an H.G. Wells novel, directed by John Frankenheimer (Richard Stanley was originally slated to direct, but he got fired?!), and starring David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Ron Perlman, Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. A great cast. Unfortunately, the performances by Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando both seemed a bit unfocussed. In this movie, Thewlis is a castaway, who finds himself stranded on an island where Brando plays a brilliant but mad scientist who is converting animals into humans using genetic manipulation. Kilmer plays Brando's henchman and the experiment goes awry after the 'animals' become too much like 'humans'. I liked it a lot - I'm a sucker for those H.G. Wells adaptations.

Collection ID 996
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Ron Perlman, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer
Genre: Horror
Studio: New Line Cinema   Release date: 1996   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): German (USA)
Summary: After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.
My Rating:
My Review: This movie gets pretty low ratings at IMDB, but I like it quite a bit. Adapted from an H.G. Wells novel, directed by John Frankenheimer (Richard Stanley was originally slated to direct, but he got fired?!), and starring David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Ron Perlman, Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. A great cast. Unfortunately, the performances by Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando both seemed a bit unfocussed. In this movie, Thewlis is a castaway, who finds himself stranded on an island where Brando plays a brilliant but mad scientist who is converting animals into humans using genetic manipulation. Kilmer plays Brando's henchman and the experiment goes awry after the 'animals' become too much like 'humans'. I liked it a lot - I'm a sucker for those H.G. Wells adaptations.

Collection ID 713
Director: Terence Fisher
Starring: Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, Carole Gray, Eddie Byrne, Sam Kydd
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Studio: Planet Film Productions   Release date: 1966   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A small island community is overrun with creeping, blobbish, tentacled monsters which liquefy and digest the bones from living creatures. The community struggles to fight back.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Terence Fisher (The curse of Frankenstein, Revenge of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, and many other horror movies). Starring Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, Carole Gray and others. I remember watching this movie late at night, under cover of a blanket to keep my parents from knowing that I was up so late. Watching the late night 'Creature Feature' was a thrill for this young fan. This particular movie featured a fantastic story, a very dark mood, genetically engineered creatures, and an isolated community. A small, remote, British Island is home to an experimental laboratory. That laboratory. is investigating a possible cure for cancer. Unfortunately, their experiments lead to the creation of something terrible, something that feed on the bones of living creatures. Experts rush to the island to investigate a bizarre series of murders, but they're cut off from the mainland when a storm moves in. Soon they're confronted with the terror of these 'Silicates'. These rapidly reproducing creatures are quickly exhausting the supply of cattle on this island, and the only food source left is the terrorized citizens. Can the crew of 'experts' protect these people from this genetically engineered life form? Despite the poor quality of this DVD transfer, the thrilling plot and excellent pacing make this sci-fi horror flick an excellent treat.

Collection ID 1403
Director: Terence Fisher
Starring: Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, Carole Gray, Eddie Byrne, Sam Kydd
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Studio: Planet Film Productions   Release date: 1966   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A small island community is overrun with creeping, blobbish, tentacled monsters which liquefy and digest the bones from living creatures. The community struggles to fight back.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Terence Fisher (The curse of Frankenstein, Revenge of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, and many other horror movies). Starring Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, Carole Gray and others. I remember watching this movie late at night, under cover of a blanket to keep my parents from knowing that I was up so late. Watching the late night 'Creature Feature' was a thrill for this young fan. This particular movie featured a fantastic story, a very dark mood, genetically engineered creatures, and an isolated community. A small, remote, British Island is home to an experimental laboratory. That laboratory. is investigating a possible cure for cancer. Unfortunately, their experiments lead to the creation of something terrible, something that feed on the bones of living creatures. Experts rush to the island to investigate a bizarre series of murders, but they're cut off from the mainland when a storm moves in. Soon they're confronted with the terror of these 'Silicates'. These rapidly reproducing creatures are quickly exhausting the supply of cattle on this island, and the only food source left is the terrorized citizens. Can the crew of 'experts' protect these people from this genetically engineered life form? Despite the poor quality of this DVD transfer, the thrilling plot and excellent pacing make this sci-fi horror flick an excellent treat.

Collection ID 751
Director: Juan Ibáñez, Jack Hill
Starring: Boris Karloff, Julissa, Carlos East, Rafael Bertrand, Yolanda Montes
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Studio: Azteca Films   Release date: 1971   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): Spanish, English (Mexico, USA)
Summary: The inhabitants of a small, remote island have been practicing voodoo rites and worshipping an evil priest named Damballah for years, but the local law officials generally turn a blind eye to this death cult's bizarre activities. Captain Labesch arrives from the mainland, determined to crack down on the island's lawlessness and clean up the ineffectual, hard-drinking police force. He appeals for assistance from wealthy plantation tycoon Carl Van Molder, who owns nearly half of the island and wields a great deal of influence over the population. Van Molder has made the study of parapsychology his life's work and believes in the secret powers of the mind. He warns Labesch not to interfere with this forgotten island's ancient ways. Also visiting is Van Molder's niece, Annabella, a temperance crusader who wants her uncle to help fund the International Anti-Saloon League...
My Rating:
My Review: Another crappy selection amongst the crud of a $10.00 horror compilation collection. In this case I ended up with the crud. Despite the fact that this movie stars Boris Karloff (in one of his last roles) and the sexy Yolanda Montes, the movie stank. Here's a movie that supposed to be set on a remote and tropical island, but we're never quite sure where it takes place. It's suggested that it's some island near Fiji, but the people, plants and language are completely out of place that location. It's quite obvious that it's a Mexican production designed to take advantage of Boris Karloff's name and Yolande Montes' sex appeal. The plot is a voodoo zombie mishmash that never really makes much sense. Boris Karloff plays the part of Mr. Van Molder, a scientist who's retired to the island of Coaibi. There he pursues some rather controversial experiments and leads a snake cult obsessed with black magic and zombies. There's an evil dwarf who seems to be more in charge than the character played by Boris Karloff, and then there's the cannibalistic zombies. When Captain Labesch arrives on the island (from the mainland?) he's determined to crack down on the islands superstitious inhabitants and ineffective police force. The story roams all over the place, and there's basically only one real reason to watch this movie and that's Yolanda Montes; a Mexican Actress/Exotic dancer with considerable sex appeal. At 40 years old (when the film was made), she still has a great figure and all the moves to make her voodoo mistress character shimmy with sex-appeal as she dances to entrance the island inhabitants. Combined with a fairly good sound track Yolanda shook her booty and managed to keep me from falling asleep during this snoozefest of a horror movie. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Collection ID 1437
Director: Juan Ibáñez, Jack Hill
Starring: Boris Karloff, Julissa, Carlos East, Rafael Bertrand, Yolanda Montes
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Studio: Azteca Films   Release date: 1971   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): Spanish, English (Mexico, USA)
Summary: The inhabitants of a small, remote island have been practicing voodoo rites and worshipping an evil priest named Damballah for years, but the local law officials generally turn a blind eye to this death cult's bizarre activities. Captain Labesch arrives from the mainland, determined to crack down on the island's lawlessness and clean up the ineffectual, hard-drinking police force. He appeals for assistance from wealthy plantation tycoon Carl Van Molder, who owns nearly half of the island and wields a great deal of influence over the population. Van Molder has made the study of parapsychology his life's work and believes in the secret powers of the mind. He warns Labesch not to interfere with this forgotten island's ancient ways. Also visiting is Van Molder's niece, Annabella, a temperance crusader who wants her uncle to help fund the International Anti-Saloon League...
My Rating:
My Review: Another crappy selection amongst the crud of a $10.00 horror compilation collection. In this case I ended up with the crud. Despite the fact that this movie stars Boris Karloff (in one of his last roles) and the sexy Yolanda Montes, the movie stank. Here's a movie that supposed to be set on a remote and tropical island, but we're never quite sure where it takes place. It's suggested that it's some island near Fiji, but the people, plants and language are completely out of place that location. It's quite obvious that it's a Mexican production designed to take advantage of Boris Karloff's name and Yolande Montes' sex appeal. The plot is a voodoo zombie mishmash that never really makes much sense. Boris Karloff plays the part of Mr. Van Molder, a scientist who's retired to the island of Coaibi. There he pursues some rather controversial experiments and leads a snake cult obsessed with black magic and zombies. There's an evil dwarf who seems to be more in charge than the character played by Boris Karloff, and then there's the cannibalistic zombies. When Captain Labesch arrives on the island (from the mainland?) he's determined to crack down on the islands superstitious inhabitants and ineffective police force. The story roams all over the place, and there's basically only one real reason to watch this movie and that's Yolanda Montes; a Mexican Actress/Exotic dancer with considerable sex appeal. At 40 years old (when the film was made), she still has a great figure and all the moves to make her voodoo mistress character shimmy with sex-appeal as she dances to entrance the island inhabitants. Combined with a fairly good sound track Yolanda shook her booty and managed to keep me from falling asleep during this snoozefest of a horror movie. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Collection ID 441
Director: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman
Genre: Comedy, Classics
Studio: Casey Productions   Release date: 1963   Rated: G   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan, who, before kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot, under the Big W. All of the motorists set out to find the fortune.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1055
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell, Max Wall
Genre: Fantasy
Studio: Python Films   Release date: 1977   Rated:   
Language (Country): English, French (UK)
Summary: After the death of his father the young cooper 'Dennis Cooper' goes to town where he has to pass several adventures. The town and the whole kingdom is threatened by a terrible monster called 'Jabberwocky'. Will Dennis make his fortune? Is anyone brave enough to defeat the monster? A medieval tale with Pythonesque humour.
My Rating:
My Review: Terry Gilliam's directorial debut. Starring Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell, Max Wall and a few others. This low budget production ($500,000.00 budget) was a charming bit of 'Pythonesque' humor. After repeated viewings, this movie gets better and better. An unappreciated, and somewhat rare Monty Python film. The writing is excellent, but the production value very low. Stocked with the traditional Monty Python visuals, the story is a great black comedy in the style of this famous troupe. Dennis is a Cooper's son, away from home on his first adventure. While Dennis encounters all manner of characters on his quest, he keeps his true love, 'Griselda Fishfinger' close to his heart, and hopes to one day win her approval and her hand in marriage. While he has no aspirations for fame or glory, he's thrust into the spotlight when he is unwittingly cast as hero and forced to hunt down a legendary dragon - The Jabberwocky! (based upon the Lewis Carroll poem). A medieval tale of chivalry and frivolity. I give it a 4 out of 5. If you're not a fan of Monty Python, you may not rate this movie quite so highly.

Collection ID 199
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell, Max Wall
Genre: Fantasy
Studio: Python Films   Release date: 1977   Rated:   
Language (Country): English, French (UK)
Summary: After the death of his father the young cooper 'Dennis Cooper' goes to town where he has to pass several adventures. The town and the whole kingdom is threatened by a terrible monster called 'Jabberwocky'. Will Dennis make his fortune? Is anyone brave enough to defeat the monster? A medieval tale with Pythonesque humour.
My Rating:
My Review: Terry Gilliam's directorial debut. Starring Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell, Max Wall and a few others. This low budget production ($500,000.00 budget) was a charming bit of 'Pythonesque' humor. After repeated viewings, this movie gets better and better. An unappreciated, and somewhat rare Monty Python film. The writing is excellent, but the production value very low. Stocked with the traditional Monty Python visuals, the story is a great black comedy in the style of this famous troupe. Dennis is a Cooper's son, away from home on his first adventure. While Dennis encounters all manner of characters on his quest, he keeps his true love, 'Griselda Fishfinger' close to his heart, and hopes to one day win her approval and her hand in marriage. While he has no aspirations for fame or glory, he's thrust into the spotlight when he is unwittingly cast as hero and forced to hunt down a legendary dragon - The Jabberwocky! (based upon the Lewis Carroll poem). A medieval tale of chivalry and frivolity. I give it a 4 out of 5. If you're not a fan of Monty Python, you may not rate this movie quite so highly.